Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 60 Recruitment
The negotiation went so smoothly that Su Li couldn't believe it, so he asked, "Are you no longer traveling around?"

Hatsicklin nodded and said, "The Black Mountains are the end point of our family's journey. We chose the Border Princes as our journey destination because we wanted to find a suitable place to settle down at the end of our journey. The pioneering lords here have a great demand for caravans, and there are also many projects that are suitable for our engineering team. Perhaps we can get along well."

Hatskling's grin was wide, a smile that was always present for halflings, who were used to calling humans "big men" and found great comfort in close relationships.

Looking at the halfling's grinning face, Su Li couldn't help but smile. The gods of this world were very particular when they created the creatures. They gave the elves long ears and elegance, the dwarves big beards and stubbornness, and the halflings a wide grin and optimism.

Therefore, they can always get along well with humans, are the favorite servants of human nobles, and are also born with business temperament.

Within the border princes' territories, strife abounded, with lords engaged in endless wars and conquests. However, all lords adhered to a tacit agreement: never attack caravans, lest they sever trade routes and leave pioneering lords stranded and dying in remote territories. Halflings, under the guise of caravans, were especially favored, as their reputation for business was strong, and many lords preferred dealing with them over cunning human traders.

After the relationship eased, Su Li learned more about the Balantangborn family. There were a total of 56 halflings in their family, 23 of whom were men and women in their prime and could carry bows and arrows to serve as guards of the manor.

Their fighting power is definitely not as good as that of knights. The talents of halflings are mainly reflected in business, and their fighting power is only equivalent to that of armed squires.

According to the agreement with Hatsklin, the halflings usually provide 12 halfling archers to train and patrol in Su Li's army.

If the territory is invaded, or if Su Li summons his vassals to launch a war of conquest against other factions, the halflings must provide at least one elite soldier and two squads of soldiers to follow Su Li into battle. Of course, they can also send more men to win military glory. If they achieve meritorious service, Su Li may consider increasing the size of their territory.

These terms were not difficult for the Balantombon family to accept, as their ogre companions actually included three ogre bull warriors. These were monstrous infantrymen far taller and stronger than ordinary ogres. Behind their heavy iron plastrons lay vast masses of muscle and fat, capable of charging into enemy formations and savagely swinging their massive clubs, unleashing a bloody slaughter. To deal with such a massive monster, at least one elite knight was required.

The negotiations on the vassal's military obligations went very smoothly, but the economic negotiations made even the optimistic and cheerful halflings lose their smile!
Hartzklin's mouth twitched, but it wasn't a smile. "Oh, venerable lord, I wonder if His Majesty Hyacinth has abandoned his protection of us and given all the divine grace to you. Why are you so stuck on the 800 gold coins? You've plundered every single gold crown in our family."

The Golden Crown is the official name of the gold coin and is the official currency issued by the empire. Halflings, goblins, and some human believers in the god of commerce believe that there is a faint divine power on it, so they only recognize this official currency and do not recognize the gold coins minted by the lords from the gold mines.

Therefore, each gold crown is a treasure that the halflings cannot give up easily. Su Li directly set the price at 800 gold crowns to purchase 8 kilometers of territory, and did not give Hatsklin any chance to bargain.

But this price is the bottom line that the Balantangborn family can accept, which makes every halfling grin but unable to laugh.

All their gold coins were drained out at once, and they were forced to become vassals of the Hesse Lords. Why does it feel like the Balantombon family sold themselves out and helped the lord count money?
They lost money and lives, and had to help Master Su Li expand the territory, help Master Su Li with excavation projects, and even help Master Su Li fight wars, but all they got was 8 kilometers of "territory"! This area is really a veritable community, and a community with only wilderness.

Every halfling had a bitter expression on their face. Aren't halflings Her Majesty Hyacinth's favorite race? But this Young Master Su Li was actually the most favored? He was such a great businessman!

Su Li's favor towards Hyacinth, the deity worshipped by the halflings, is much higher than that towards the Goddess of Dawn.

This deity is the halfling god of childbirth, fertility, and sex. It is also rumored that she is the ancestor god of the halflings, who gives them divine revelations every once in a while, guiding them to go to more fertile lands, reproduce more offspring, and obtain more wealth.

In Su Li's eyes, this kind of god who feeds wealth to believers is much more attractive than the god like the Goddess of Dawn who encourages believers to strive for self-improvement.

Su Li was overjoyed to hear the halflings say they had received the protection of Her Majesty Hyacinth. He smiled and instilled the teachings of the Dawn Goddess into them, "Don't worry. Although you are penniless now, you have a bright future. The Black Forest Territory is expanding and developing, and there are plenty of projects and opportunities for you. As long as you can lead the ogre construction team to start work and organize a caravan, what else can you do to enrich yourself?"

Hatsklin was successfully tempted by Su Li's big pie. Although the halflings were not very clean, their hard work was widely recognized.

If there are plenty of opportunities, they will soon be happy and actively devote themselves to work, enjoying the joy of earning the golden crown.

Then Hatsklin and her family members settled down in the lower reaches of the Brünnene River. They chose the river bank about two hundred empires away from the confluence of the rivers as their territory.

She planned to build an exquisite garden here, watch the barges passing by on the canal every day, and set up watchtowers and sluices to help Hesse guard the core area.

Although this is the lower reaches of the Brienne River, for merchant ships, barges and river trolls coming from Maleburg, this is the upper reaches of the Hessen Territory.

Hatskling and her estate guards and river guards will defend this place and provide vigilance for the Black Forest.

Her eldest son Harriet took 12 halfling archers to join the armed attendants of the Hesse Territory, fighting side by side with humans to guard this homeland.

Her nephew, Harilai, who was more business-minded, led two teams of ogre construction teams into the direct jurisdiction of the Hessen Territory.

(End of this chapter)